Releasing socket for wire lines



Unite RELEASlNG SCKET FOR WIRE LINES Application July 23, 1956, Serial No. 599,563

7 Claims. (Cl. 25E-34) The present invention is concerned with a releasing socket for Wire lines. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a device for cutting a wire line attached to a well tool. ln its more specic aspects, apparatus is provided which allows the severing of a Wire line under a predetermined tension.

The present invention may be briefly described as a releasing socket for a wire line which comprises an elongated body member having a first chamber and a second chamber. A longitudinal member is sealingly positioned in the body member to extend through the chambers. The longitudinal member haspan axial passageway for receiving the wire line and means are provided in the lower portion of the body member for clamping the wire line in the body member. A compressible means is arranged in the first chamber which normally urges the longitudinal member to a first position. Means are provided between the lirst chamber and the second chamber adapted to bleed hydraulic fluid in the rst chamber to the second chamber; this means may suitably comprise a properly sized orice to allow uid to be bled slowly from the rst chamber to the second chamber. Arranged in the body member on the wire line fcr movement therealong is a cutting member and the body member is provided with a cutting surface in operative relationship with the cutting member for cutting the Wire line on movement of the cutting member. The compressible means moves to a second position by tension exerted on the wire line to cause hydraulic lluid to bleed into the second chamber.

The cutting member is suitably arranged between the clamping means and the longitudinal member and means are provided for releasing the cutting member into contact with the cutting surface on limited movement of the wire line with respect to said body member from a first position to a second position. This releasing means is suitably a collet member arranged in the body member operatively engaging the cutting member and the lower end of the longitudinal member. The collet member has expansible means embracing the longitudinal member for releasing the cutting member in contact with the cutting surface. The collet member may be tapered on its outer surface where it embraces the longitudinal member and a biasing means may be provided to urge the collet member into position for maintaining said cutting member out of contact with said cutting surface.

The collet member provided with the expansible means allows the cutting member to be released suddenly after limited movement of the longitudinal member.

The device of the present invention is suitably provided with means on its upper end for engaging a wire line fishing tool and with means on its lower end for attaching the socket to a wire line well tool and the like.

The invention will be further described with reference tothe drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematical arrangement of the invention in a cased and tubed well; and

Sttes Patent if Figs. 2 and 2a together comprise a partial sectional detailed view of the device of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in which identical numerals will be employed to designate identical parts, numeral 11 designates a well bore drilled from the earths surface, not shown, to penetrate a plurality of earth formations or intervals A, B, and C. These formations, zones, strata, and the like may comprise productive and non-productive intervals. For example, zones A and C may be productive of oil and/or gas and the like and zone B may be non-productive.

A casing, such as 12, is arranged in the well bore 11 and is cemented in place with cement 13. A tubing 14 is run into the casing 12 and is suitably set permanently in the well with its lower open end 15 above the uppermost of the plurality of subsurface intervals penetrated by the well bore 11.

Shown arranged in the tubing 14 is a tubular extension member 16 which forms a ilow path from the open end 15 of the tubing 14 to a point above the interval C. This tubular extension member is suitably supported, suspended and/or anchored in a landing nipple, such as 17, and sealed therein by sealing means, such as 18. The upper end of the extension member 16 is provided with a fishing head or connection 19.

lowered on a wire line 20 from the well head, not shown, is a releasing socket 21, in accordance with the present invention, which is attached to a suitable fishing or grab tool 22, the wire line being suitably connected to the releasing socket 21 as shown in the dotted lines and as will be described in more detail in Figs. 2 and 2a.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 2a, numeral 21 designates a releasing socket in accordance with the present invention comprising an elongated body member 30. This body member 30 is provided with a cavity 30a divided into a first chamber 31 and a second chamber 32. A third chamber 33 is also provided.

Extending longitudinally and sealingly positioned in the body member is a longitudinal member 34 provided with an axial passageway 34a through which the wire line 20 extends. The wire line 20 extends through the longitudinal member 34 into the lower chamber 33 of the body member 3i) and suitably is clamped in the chamber 33 by means of a clamp 35 held together by suitable clamping means 36. Bearing against the upper end of the chamber 31 and against a shoulder 37, which suitably forms part of the lower end 3S of the longitudinally extending member 34, is a spring member 39 which normaily urges the longitudinally extending member 34 to a first position in the body member. The shoulder 37 divides the cavity 36a in body member 3i) into chambers 31 and 32. The shoulder 37 is provided with an orice bleed port Stia which allows communication between the chamber 31 and the chamber 32 or from above or below u the shoulder 37.

The chamber 32 has an enlarged portion 4b into which the lower end 38 of the elongated member 34 projects or extends. A collet member generally indicated by the numeral d1 is provided with expansible means or ngers 42 which embraces the lower end 43 of the section 38. rthe collet member 41 is provided with a bottom cutting surface @1b and rests on an eccentric or knife member or cutting element 41a having a top cutting surface 41c which, in turn, is arranged on the clamp 35 for movement on the wire line 20.

In operative relationshp with the cutter element 41a is a tapered camming surface 44 provided in the chamber 33.

The back end of the fingers 42 are suitably tapered by providing a surface 45. This tapered surface 45 taken with a spring means 46 arranged in the enlarged portion il allows the collet member el to be reloaded automatically as will be described further.

VVflihe :lowerend of he gelasable socket 21.is provided. with. a threaded .Connecting .rneans which is threaded!! conctedto a 'suitable wire" line tool whichmay be a grab hookor other iishing Ytool or other wire line Well tools-1Vr f' he upper end ofthe releasahleseahet-.Zl .has a-shing 292.15?? fOr. aagaaiuewith a; wire line fishing tool..

. The Chamb-.er l'hafs. .a filling .orifice 49 which is suitably llueaded plus??? .for utroduetiou fhydraulic -1 9 the c amber 31.- e

Ir is .te-.be goed .that the device of. Figs. V2 and 2a is Svi bly .formed ihsections .with anupper section 51 heine PfCl'Yldes lwith .fishing heels 48. and threadedly 'connected by mailde'. threads .52 to .a tubular member .5.3 which contains chamber 31 which, ini turn, Yis connected by mating threads EQ' an. intermediate section u55. .enclosing the enlarged PQftQu .40. which, iuixturnA .is threadedly connected by nature threads 5.6 to a secondintermediate. portion 157 1s connected by mating threads 58 .to the portieri e L g2 of the releasing socket 2 1 Thisbottomportion incorporatesa chamber 33 and clamp 35. and providesY the threaded .connection 4.7.. By virtue fithe threaded connect-i s at SS anew wire, Yline .2.6 may be clamped in -thg vice and the device reassembled. 1 It to be furthernoted that the longitudinally extend@ ing member 34 is sealed with sealing means .60 in a recess @in the. Illllll A51. .ar1d with a sealing means 62 in recess r[beheading means may. suitably be .Olrings Lilieewise, the member 34 is .threadedly connected to the shoulder S'Lby mating threads 6.4 and a Vsealing member, suechasan O -rillg 6.5, is provided in the recess 65 to formY g tight seal. Shoulderr37 is also. sealed against the wall ofthe v.tn enrlter.15.3 by sealing 'means Y67 Vin a recess 68. A llQatngcollar 69 is arrangedin chamber 3210 pref Yeni. .liqu idt' lock'ai1d the oating collar 69 is'suitably sgaled against .the member 3.8 by sealing means 70 in s regess 71; sealing means 72 in .recess 'Z3V seals against Y member 3. Y e f Y In employing .the device ofthe present invention, it Wouldbe suitably employed `connected toa well tool, not shown, by'threads 47`asrillustrated'in Fig.'2. The chamber 3.1 is filled with a suitable Vhydraulic huid. -e The spring .means 39 Ahaving a predetermined `compression isfdesigned tobe overcome on exceeding theforce ofY the spring V on upward pull on the wire line tothe clamplng means itibeing assumed thattthe tool to which the Y releasing socketisuattached has'be'co'me stuck. As the clampg has tension exerted on it through 'the wire line 2.0, the upward force exerted on the shoulder 37 causes the spring 39y to Vbe' -con'lp'ressed'which allows hydraulic fluid to be bled through the orifice 38d ata slow rate under the sustained overload, As the expansibleY or collet fingers. 42` move upwardly compressing spring v46, the

- expansible or LcolletY fingers' 42 vmove into the .enlarged space 40 and are allowed to spring outwardly causingthe QOlletmember 41 andthe knife 41a to be moved upwardly suddenly@ Surface '44 coacts with tapered surface 43a on cutterj element Vd lato center the element 4in.' VAs cutter .element 41a is moved toward center the wire line 20 is sheared. by cutting action between the bottomY surface 41h tif-.element 4.1 and the'top'surface'41c of member 4i. On Seyering or Vshearing of the wire line 20 it maybe retrieved; Thereaftergthe releasing socket andstuckz tool as vdesired maybe retrieved using a stronger wire line e tha'nthat originally employed.

."lhe-combinationof theV tapered surface n45V and the spring member 4.6;. allpws'the device to bereloaded whenV lthe.fupwardpull is insuicient to severthe wire line 2i),

the taperedsurface allowing the lingerstztoY rfc-enter the conned; space. 57a in the membersr57. 5 Y

Y .The device. of `the present inventionris ofA considerable Y .and importance because it allows' the wire line to 'befsevered under a predeterminedload whichiallows the retrieving :andrecovery of expensive wireline which might. be. par-ted or broken otherwiseV ata point where IIJOVQIDQQI Qu Said wire line between the clamping meansV f chamber.

AassessesY 'Y f l 'its Value might be considerably decreased byV VW e of :being hrolsan to provide... .only relatiyelshcrt `lfulgths',VVV The invention has particular importance in the Yso-called permanent well completion operations where the tubing is .s

passageWaYfor receiving -saidwire line andv means con- Y nected to said longitudinal Y'member Ydividing said cavity Y e into lirst and second chambers, means in said bodyinem- 'ber for. clamping said wire 1ine,'lcompressible1means fin Said first chamber shouldered on said dividing meansand' normally urging said longitudinal memherto a rstrpesi* s 7 tion,1means adapted vto bleed duid inthe lirstchamber to the second chamber, a cutting member-.arranged for and the longitudinal member,V anda cuttingsurfaceV formed by means in said body member in .cooperative relationship Wth'said cutting memberrfor cutting said wire line on movement of y said cutting member, fsaid Y Y compressible'means `movingto a second position by ten- SiQn exerted onrsaid Wire line into s aid second chamber..

' 2,. A releasing socket. for a line which'compr'ises i all eliugated body member `provided with'a lirstchams ber and a second chamber, a longitudinal member-.scale ingly positioned in said body member to extend through saidchambers, said longitudinalfmember having an axial Y passageway for receiving said wire line, means insaid body member for clamping said .wire line, comprensiblev means insaid rst Vchamber operatively bearing against 'Y g said longitudinal member and normally urging Vsaid longif @Y e -tudinal member to. a .rst position, means between4 said first chamber Iand said second chamber adaptedV to bleed hydraulic uid in the rstchamber to the second 'chamber, a cutting member arranged for movementpon saclr Y.

wire line between the 'clamping means and thelongitudif` nalmember, and a cutting surface formed; by means in i Y said body member in operative relationshiprwith said Y cutting memberforcutting said wire line on movement of said cutting member, said compressiblemeans move ing to a second positionby tension exerted on said 'wire lineY to cause 3. Atr'eleasing socket for aiwirellinel which comprises` anY elongated body member Yprovided with Ia rst chambern Yand a second chamber, a longitudinal membersealingly,

positionedi in .said body member-to extend-through said chambers, said longitudinalmember havingsanaxial'pase sageway for` receiving said wire-line, Ymeansiin saidlbody member for clamping said wire lne,"compressibl erxnea ns 1 inpsai'd first chamber operatively bearing against the longige l t-udinal member` an'dnormallyl urging' said longitudinal member to a rst position, means? between said trstfcham-,fV Y ber and said second chamber adapted to bleed hydraulic fluid in the first ehamber to tliesecond chamber, a cuts.y

ting member arranged'forY movement-on said w-irejlineg;` between the clamjgiing.means` andthe longitudinalrmemfV p ber, "a'fcutting surtac-:efY formediby means in said l' bodygV e lmember.inoperative relationshipwith said cuttingmeme.

ber'forjcutting said wire lineon eccentric movement-of said" cutting member,v means forlreleasing said cutting` member into contact `with'fsad .cuttig-'surfaceionrlimitedi movement of said' wire lineY with,v respect tof.said"body 1 Y member from a rst position toa second position, saidu compressible meansmoving toa second po'stionbyftenf I lll/Paullo Y sion exerted on said wire line itocaus'e to bleedintov said second chamber;

o f thepresent, invention hav- Y to cause fluid to bleedVV hydraulic uidrsto' Ybleed into saidl second Y e 4. A releasing socket for a wire line which comprises an elongated body member provided with a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber, a longitudinal member sealingly positioned in said body member to extend through said first and second chambers, said longitudinal member having an axial passageway for receiving said wire line, means in said body member for clamping said wire line, compressible means in said lirst cham ber operatively bearing against the longitudinal member and normally urging said longitudinal member to a lrst position, means between said first chamber `and said second chamber adapted to bleed hydraulic fluid in the rst chamber to the second chamber, a cutting member arranged in said third chamber for movement on said wire line between the clamping means and the longitudinal member, and a collet member arranged in said third chamber having a bottom cutting surface operatively engaging said cutting member on eccentric movement of said cutting member, and said longitudinal member having expansible means embracing said longitudinal member for releasing said cutting member into contact with said cutting surface on limited movement of said wire line with respect to said body member from a rst position to a second position.

5. A releasing socket for a Wire line which comprises an elongated body member provided with a rst chamber and a second chamber, a longitudinal member sealingly positioned in said body member to extend through said chambers, said longitudinal member having an axial passageway for receiving said wire line, means in said body member for clamping said wire line, compressible means in said rst chamber operatively bearing against said longitudinal member and normally urging said longitudinal member to a first position, bleed means between said first chamber and said second chamber adapted to bleed hydraulic uid in the rst chamber to the second chamber, a cutting member arranged for movement on said wire line between the clamping means and the longitudinal member, a cutting surface formed by means in said body member in operative relationship with said cutting member for cutting said wire line on eccentric movement of said cutting member, said compressible means moving to a second position by tension exerted on said wire line to cause hydraulic duid to bleed into said second chamber, and means on said socket for retrieving said socket after cutting of said Wire line.

6. A releasing socketV in accordance with claim 5 in which means are provided for attaching the socket to a wire line well tool.

7. A releasing socket for a wire line which comprises an elongated body member provided with a rst chamber and a second chamber, said body member having a port for introducing hydraulic uid into said first chamber, a longitudinal member sealingly positioned in said body member to extend through said chambers, said longitudinal member having an axial passageway for receiving said wire line, means in said body member for clamping said wire line, spring means in said first chamber operatively bearing against said longitudinal member and normally urging said longitudinal member to a rst position, means between said first chamber and said second cham ber adapted to bleed hydraulic tluid in the rst chamber to the second chamber, a cutting member arranged for movement on said wire line between the clamping means and the longitudinal member, a cutting surface formed by means in said body member in operative relationship with said cutting member for cutting said wire line on eccentric movement of said cutting member, and spring means bearing against said body member and normally urging said cutting member away from said cutting surface, said spring means in said rst chamber moving to a second position by tension exerted on said wire line to cause hydraulic uid to bleed into said second chamber.

No references cited. 

